Mercury, the substance in dental amalgam fillings, is one of the oldest toxins known.The endocrine disruptive effects of this substance have recently become a public concern.Amalgams release mercury vapours into the human body 24 hours a day.

What does Mercury do?

Mercury is a toxic chemical but it is particularly dangerous for the thyroid.Your thyroid needs iodine to produce its hormones.However, mercury and iodine are chemically very similar to each other, so your thyroid will quickly absorb and store it too.

If your thyroid stores mercury in place of iodine, it won’t have enough iodine to produce adequate levels of T4 and T3 hormones, which will lead to hypothyroidism.Then, this puts you at risk of developing an autoimmune disease, which is when your immune system can no longer recognize your thyroid cells as your own and attacks them to get rid of them.

The primary storage sites of this toxic chemical are the brain, thyroid, liver, and adrenals.

How does it do damage to the thyroid gland?

Dental silver or amalgam fillings are made up of approximately 50 % elemental mercury.Studies have shown that this toxic substance can bind with cells in the thyroid gland and lead to an under-active thyroid, known as hypothyroidism.The thyroid gland has iodine binding sites or receptors which bind with the iodine (which comes from our diet).The iodine enters the thyroid and activates it.If the thyroid is not absorbing enough iodine, it will not be fully activated, causing hypothyroidism and related symptoms, which include low body temperature, feeling cold, weight gain and irritability.

Mercury from dental fillings migrates to the thyroid gland and sits on one or more of the thyroid’s iodine receptors, blocking the iodine from reaching the receptors which, in turn, prevents full activation of the thyroid.

It has also been linked to thyroid damage, autoimmune thyroiditis and hormone function impairment.

Looking to remove amalgam fillings?

See Part 2 of this blog to find out how to detox and learn more about this issue.